Cultural diversity

Ancestry

About this topic

Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.

This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.

Interpretation notes

  • People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
  • ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
  • The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.

Key insight

In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Ardeer were English, Australian and Vietnamese.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Ardeer - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Ardeer in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ardeer, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).

Ardeer
Brimbank (C)

English

2021 count

474

% of total

7.5%

Change from 2016

-5.2pp

Australian

2021 count

442

% of total

7.0%

Change from 2016

-10.9pp

Vietnamese

2021 count

392

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

-

Irish

2021 count

159

% of total

2.5%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

Maltese

2021 count

159

% of total

2.5%

Change from 2016

-

Scottish

2021 count

133

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Indian

2021 count

130

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Chinese

2021 count

129

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Italian

2021 count

112

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

-3.5pp

Polish

2021 count

107

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Ancestry for Ardeer. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).

Ancestry for Ardeer. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
Ancestry for Ardeer. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Brimbank (C)%Count%Brimbank (C)%Countpp
English4747.5%5.8%12412.7%5.9%+350-5.2pp
Australian4427.0%6.3%17417.9%6.2%+268-10.9pp
Vietnamese3926.2%8.4%--8.0%--
Irish1592.5%1.5%414.2%1.6%+118-1.7pp
Maltese1592.5%2.6%--2.8%--
Scottish1332.1%1.2%353.6%1.3%+98-1.5pp
Indian1302.1%1.9%171.7%2.5%+113+0.4pp
Chinese1292.0%3.4%202.1%3.2%+109-0.1pp
Italian1121.8%3.1%525.3%3.3%+60-3.5pp
Polish1071.7%0.6%--0.7%--
Total6,318100.0%100.0%974100.0%100.0%+5,3440.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).